Day 3 of my mini series on amputee awareness week and educating you in the usual society pitfalls we have to deal with on a daily basis.
3) Wheelchair access
Did you know, a wheelchair access ramp is legally not supposed to be more than 12 degrees incline, and more preferably 8 degrees? Why? Have you ever tried to push yourself up a steep slope in a wheelchair only using your arms?!
Although this is a mandated law for new buildings in NZ, there is nothing in law that forces older buildings to make their access more suitable and up to date.
This means that when I became disabled I had to change my dentist because they only had a steep staircase entrance, no lift access. How can that possibly be, you ask? Well yep this is something I deal with very regularly.
Camp sites: there are NO campsites in Wanaka that are accessible in a wheelchair. And that is only one town I’m using as an example. Many advertise their buildings as wheelchair accessible.. but what that should mean in reality is:
♿️ wider pathways to accommodate a wheelchair
♿️ ramp access to all amenities
♿️ a suitably equipped wheelchair accessible disabled toilet and shower, with grab rails and a shower seat.
♿️lowered benchtops in shared kitchens
♿️ widened doorways
♿️ disabled parking close to the accommodation.
♿️wheelchair accessible light switches and windows.
Camping is only one example. Many businesses in the older buildings in Invercargill have no lift access. I was meant to be at a business meeting, earlier this year while I was still waiting for a prosthetic. The only way they could get me in (upstairs) would have been to carry me – and my wheelchair- up the stairs. 😱 Needless to say I didn’t go.
Kerbs. A lot of them locally to me (and the roadside) are old, uneven and potholes. This creates a tip risk for a wheelchair.
Shops are supposed to have a wheelchair accessible till. Quite often they don’t, and if they do it isn’t always open. I know this is definitely the case in my local supermarket.
There’s no point in stating that your business is wheelchair accessible if all you’re doing is paying lip service.
Melanie Magowan 
I understand your frustration, wheelchair accessibility…. some places say they accessible, when there is a tiny lip on doorway…. Or places that don’t even acknowledge someone in a wheelchair possible coming. As for orchards offer hay rides, wheelchair accessible.. ha… How fair is that? inclusion? think not…. BUt airports, someone in a specialized wheelchair that doesn’t fold up, can not ride a plane, unless they are filthy rich and have their own private jet. (oops sorry for my venting, big frustration with people that I take care of, I have to be mindful and ask specific questions about bed height, doorways, bathrooms, restaurants at hotel upstairs or downstairs with no elevator…
Yep, you totally understand the frustrations I can tell. I can relate to everything you have said. It’s interesting because this particular point has had the biggest reaction and most comments so far this week. I just don’t think enough people actually understand. Thanks for your comment. 😊